Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
INFLUENCES ON THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH & SOCIETY - Coggle…
INFLUENCES ON THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH & SOCIETY
ROLE/STATUS OF WOMEN IN NEW TESTEMENT
Jesus clearly viewed women highly
he taught them in the same way he taught his disciples
e.g he ate with Martha and Mary , and when he spoke to the samaritan women at the well
he defended the women who anointed him during the meal at Bethany for her action, and rebuked those who criticised her
Throughout Jesus' itinerant ministry, he had been accompanied by women as well as disciples, and they assisted at his burial
Feminists would object to their role as they cared for his needs- they were not carrying out any preaching or ministry and the 12 disciples were
after his resurrection, Jesus did not commission them as future leaders
One of the most important statements about human status in the New Testament os found in Pauls letter to the Galatian Christians
in it he stated explicitly that because all now are 'in christ', racial, social and gender distinctions do not apply
When Paul write to the christians in Rome, he told them to show respect to pheobe, who was a woman deacon
he commended a number of other women who were fellow workers with Paul, and were 'working hard in the Lord'
However a negative attitude towards women is shown in Pauls first letter to the christians in Corinth
It displays a view that would now be regarded as sexist
there are 2 further references made in letters traditionally ascribed to paul
1 Timothy 2
Ephesians 5 (women portrayes as subordinate to their husbands)
PRE 19TH CENTURY VIEWS ON WOMEN
For most of this time, the views held by secular society about women were similar to those held by the church
in the early centuries of the churches existence, some church leaders held views that were often sexist and misogynistic
Tertullian referred to women as the 'devils doorway'
Augustine of Hippo blames Eve for the fall, and the damnation of the world
in 5th century, a number of church councils banned women from being ordained as deacons, and the pope stated his opposition to womens involvement in celebrating the eucharist
this suggests women had been acting in leadership roles in some churches
the role of women was generally restricted to marriage and motherhood
but the development of the monastic system with its rule of celibacy offered a escape from male domination for some
according to Martin Luther, women should 'remain at home, sit still, keep house and bear and bring up children'
some medieval women became highly influential , and have been regarded as early feminists
Hildegard if Bingen (12th cent) was not only in charge of her convent, but was also a respected musician, poe and naturalist whom many men consulted about hers useful for healing
the writings of mother Julian of Norwich(14th cent) are still in print ' truly is God our mother'
POST 19TH CENTURY VIEWS ON WOMEN
Little had changed at first because f the industrial revolution, men had to go out to work whilst women remained at home to carry out domestic duties
however changing ideas about the nature of humankind as endowed with reason encouraged the spread of education, and this included women
women gradually became accepted into professions such as medicine and many of those with money and influence became involved in charitable work
Catherine Booth(wife of founder of Salvation Army) claimed that women were particularly suited to public speaking and preaching
In 20th century, WW1 mean women played a key role in keeping the country going whilst mender fighting
this forced society into reassignment of their status
gradually women acquired equal employment rights, such as equal pay, though women are still a minority senior management positions
some christian denominations do not have women in leadership roles
politically, women exercise power as currently demonstrated by theres may
there are now far more women MPs than a few decades ago